Kansas - Song for America

My intro to Kansas...

Anybody here(besides me) who remembers the old "Beaker Street" radio program that used to air late nights on KAAY AM out of Little Rock back in the 70's? I was introduced to a LOT of great music and bands through this program back then---Kansas was one of them. "Song For America" was the first song I ever heard by Kansas and it really caught my ear--I'd never heard anything quite like it. Complex musical arrangements and thinking man's lyrics(with violin for Chrissakes!)I was hooked and I went out and bought this album. A lot of my friends just looked at me strangely when I played it for them(of course those looks stopped a year or two later--those Philistines--when "Carry On Wayward Son" became a huge hit). "Down the Road" opens this album and proved that Kansas can also rock out(and it's still one of their best songs IMHO). If your exposure to Kansas began with their rise to radio stardom, you owe it to yourself to check out this album. May 7, 2008

The Beginning of KANSAS's Progressive Path.

KANSAS - Song For America (1975) (****½) 8 tracks - (52:01)

Song For America was KANSAS's follow-up to their debut album that came out just the year before. The band continued on its Progressive Rock path. The full 10 minute title track let all their fans know exactly what musical direction the band would be heading in. Song for America is the album that fully developed the signature sound and style of KANSAS. Back in 1975, there was nobody else like them. They had two guitars, two keyboard players, a violin, and of course the progressive time signature changes. Then came the band's look. The guys just wore t-shirts, jeans, and cowboy boots. This combination perplexed the critics who had a hard time "pigeonholing" the band.

Even Don Kirshner himself couldn't figure the guys out for a while. He had hired the band thinking they were just another Rock act with a violin player. Kerry Livgren wasn't even a member of the band at the time. That's why mid-way thru the first album it takes a predominately classically themed turn. Livgren became the main song writer, which includes Song For America, Lamplight Symphony, and Incomudro-Hymn to the Atman. All epic-length tracks with classical arrangements.

With Song For America, KANSAS was on it's way to becoming a successful musical act. With the debut under their belt and the release of a follow-up, KANSAS became an opening act for many major musical acts touring America at that time, including The Kinks, and Mott The Hoople. Their fan-base also spread outside of the state of Kansas. They began a seemingly endless cycle of touring and continued to hone their musical skills by playing the challenging music they had written on the road to tens of thousands of fans. This would all pay off in the near future as some of their best music was yet to come...

This 2004 EPIC/Legacy remaster contains two bonus tracks, a single edit version of the title track for radio (3:01) and a "Live" version of Down the Road, recorded in 1975 at the Agora Ballroom in Cleveland Ohio (previously unreleased). Also included is a 10 page booklet with new color and B&W photos, lyrics to all the songs, and musician credits for each track.

It's nice to see continued interest in the band's music. Even though this release has been out for years, there are a number of reviews from just last year and even 2008. In fact, the CD is sold out. Let's just hope that this will convince the record company that there is a demand for Remastered versions of Monolith and Two for the Show also.

Best Track: Song For America
March 18, 2008

Excellent album from a great American prog band

"Song for America" (1975) is Kansas' 2nd album. Their self-titled debut had some excellent compositions and featured a unique sound, and the band clearly refined that sound for the follow-up. This album features several progressive rock epics, like "Song for America", "Lamplight Symphony", and "Incomudro-Hymn to Atman". "Song for America" may be Kansas' finest composition.
Kansas, while obviously influenced by Genesis and Yes, as well as hints of fusion, definitely had their own sound. They managed to maintain a great deal of the sound & feel of heartland rock, but expertly fused it with the English symphonic progressive style. They feature very intricate, almost baroque violin-led passagework, excellent harmonized dual-guitar line passages, loads of keyboards of all kinds, as well as the numerous time changes, key changes, and long chord progressions/modulations that any fan of progressive rock would love. The complexity of their compositions is not lost on the shorter pieces either, and all of the band members exhibit a very high level of musicianship. The vocals are exceptional (not always a given in progressive rock) with flawless harmonies. Steve Walsh has an incredibly clean and powerful voice.
The remastering of this classic sounds excellent, and the packaging features numerous photos, lyrics and informative liner notes. This edition also has two bonus tracks. As other reviewers have stated, the single edit of "Song for America" is god-awful. The other track is a live performance of "Down the Road", which is pretty decent.
I avoided Kansas for a long time because the only thing I ever heard from them was "Carry on Wayward Son" and "Dust in the Wind" on FM classic rock stations. Now, I love "Carry On", but it's fairly straightforward and I sort of figured they were a one-hit wonder. But I can say that, at least through "Point of Know Return", the hits represent some of their more conventional outings.
"Song of America" may be their finest album, although the debut (1974), "Masque"(1975), "Leftoverture" (1976) and "Point of Know Return"(1977) are all great albums in their own right.
Kansas was probably one of the best American progressive bands from the 70's, one of the few worthy of note. Worth a look from fans of guitar based symphonic progressive rock that are looking for something else to dig into. March 1, 2008

Song for America CD

The cd was shipped quickly and it was exactally what I was looking for. The only problem was that the jewel case was cracked. It really is no big deal as I have extras laying around to replace it. January 28, 2008

Kansas - 2nd Album And Another Winner

Kansas second album was another slice of prime American progressive rock mixed in with more straight ahead rockers. Of the first three albums this one is probably my least favorite, but it is still chocked full of great material. The album opens with the rocking "Down The Road" featuring Robby Steinhardt on lead vocals. This one has been a concert staple for years with Steinhardt also ripping it up on violin. "Song For America" follows. For many this is an ultimate Kansas track, but I have heard it so many times over the years (this is another live staple) that I have somewhat grown tired of it. "Lamplight Symphony" is an 8 minute progressive rock masterpiece. "Lonely Street" is a prime example of Kansas use of blues mixed with prog. Steve Walsh is great on this one and it has always been a favorite of mine. "The Devil Game" is another scorching rocker, and the album closes with another progressive rock epic "Icomudro-Hymn To The Atman" clocking in at over 12 minutes. Not a bad song in the bunch really and another really strong album from the band. June 19, 2007

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